Maxime Hamou has been banned for the duration of the French Open after sexually harassing a female reporter on live television.
After losing his first round match, the 21-year-old French tennis player repeatedly tried kissing and forcing himself on Eurosport reporter Maly Thomas.
Here’s the clip:
Thoms told HuffPost she wouldn’t have been so laid back in her rejection if she wasn’t on live TV.
“If I hadn’t been live on air, I would have punched him,” Thomas said, calling the altercation “frankly unpleasant.”
Thankfully, the French Tennis Federation took strong action against Hamou by banning him from the remainder of the tournament, calling his harassment toward the female reporter “reprehensible.”
Hamou has since posted an apology letter to his Instagram, but whether or not it’s actually genuine is another thing.
The letter reads:
“I would like to offer my deepest apologies to Maly Thomas if she felt hurt or shocked by my behaviour during her interview,” Hamou wrote. “I just spent a wonderful week here at Roland Garros, living my most beautiful emotions as a tennis player, and I let my overflow of enthusiasm express itself awkwardly toward Maly, who I know and sincerely respect. Nothing of what is written was my intention. I am available to her to present my apologies in person if she would like. I still learn every day from my mistakes to become a better tennis player and a better person.”
Whatever you say, Hamou. Whatever you say.
